Instructions for Your Oral Surgery

Prepare for your wisdom tooth extraction by knowing what to expect. These instructions will help you see the best results from your procedure: 

• All sedations require patients to have nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours before surgery. A small amount of water can be drunk up to 2 hours before the surgery. Also a driver/escort is required for all sedations and to be present in the building before surgery is started. 
• If you are taking any prescription medications, discuss this with your oral surgeon so that your treatment plan and preparation can be accommodated. 
• Plan for a friend or family member to take you home after your appointment and receive any care instructions from your oral surgery team. You will still be under the effects of anesthesia for a period of time and it will be unsafe for you to transport yourself home. 
• Get plenty of rest after your surgery but do not lie flat. Be sure to keep your head elevated by propping it with a pillow or sitting in a reclined position. 
• Gauze will be used as part of your surgery to promote blood clotting and begin the healing process. It will need to be changed periodically as it becomes saturated. If the bleeding continues for more than 48 hours, call our office for immediate attention. 
• An ice pack can be used to reduce swelling or soreness. Press the cold compress on the outside of your face near the sore area for 15 minutes at a time. 
• For the days following your appointment, we recommend a diet of soft foods and foods that can be eaten without chewing, such as soup or pudding. Don’t drink through a straw, as the suction can cause issues with your extraction site. 
• Tobacco products can inhibit the healing process or cause complications, so do not smoke or use them until your oral surgeon gives you permission to do so.

Reach out to our office if you have any questions about your procedure or these instructions. We’ll gladly arrange a time to discuss your treatment options. 

Wisdom Teeth Post Op Instructions English | Wisdom Teeth Post Op Instructions Spanish

After your implant placement, we’ll provide detailed post-op instructions to ensure proper care and healing. In the days following your dental implant procedure: 

• Don’t drive or operate any machinery for at least 12 hours after your procedure, as it is not safe to do so. 
• For your comfort, we recommend eating soft foods for a few days following your procedure, but you may return to your normal diet whenever you are ready to do so. 
• Avoid brushing your teeth until the day after your implant placement. When you start brushing again, avoid contact with the area near the implant. 
• Don’t rinse the surgical site for the first day. One day after treatment you should rinse your mouth with warm salt water made of ½ tsp of salt per 8 oz. of water.
• Rinse with this solution every 2 to 3 hours for several days. This will help reduce bacterial growth and inflammation. 
• You may be given a prescription mouthwash, which you should use as directed.
  Any prescribed medication should also be used as directed. 
• Don’t wear any dentures or partial dentures until your dentist gives you safety clearance to do so.
• Tobacco products can cause your implants to fail, so do not smoke or use any until your dentist gives you clearance to do so. 
• If a temporary crown was used in your implant placement, it will be unsafe to bite down on for a period of time. Do not bite down on it within the timeframe recommended by your dentist, as biting down on this during its sensitive period can result in your implant failing.
• Treat swelling by using cold compresses. Place the ice pack against the side of your face in 15-minute intervals during the first 48 hours following the procedure. After the first two days, use heat instead and continue to do so until the swelling subsides. 

If your implant’s cover screw or healing abutment falls out or seems to come loose, call us as soon as possible. It will need to be replaced, and we want to get you into the office quickly to do so. 

Any pain in the days following the procedure can be treated using an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Advil, Tylenol, or Ibuprofen. Follow the instructions for your pain reliever of choice as directed on the bottle. 
 
For any questions regarding these guidelines, please contact WISE Oral and Facial surgery. Our staff will gladly provide more information. 

Dental Implant Post-Op Instructions

We’re happy to offer our patients the comfort of IV Sedation and General Anesthesia for oral surgery procedures. Following these pre-anesthesia instructions will ensure your appointment and recovery go as smoothly as possible:

• All sedations require patients to have nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours before surgery. A small amount of water can be drunk up to 2 hours before the surgery. Also a driver/escort is required for all sedations and to be present in the building before surgery is started. 
• If you regularly take any medication by mouth, please check with our oral surgeon about taking it prior to your appointment. 
• Plan for a friend or family member to take you home after your appointment and take care of you for the rest of the day following your procedure. This should include receiving any instructions from our surgeon or medical staff. 
• Notify our team of any illness leading up to your appointment, including a sore throat, cold, stomach ache, or upset bowels. 
• For your safety, don’t wear perfume, cologne, makeup, or contacts to your appointment. 
• To help us monitor your vitals, don’t wear nail polish, press-ons, gel nails, or acrylic nails to your appointment. 
• Please dress comfortably for your appointment, and don’t wear jewelry, open-toed shoes, or long sleeve shirts. Our team will need to access your arms to monitor your vital signs. 

You should also make general preparations for your recovery by having mild pain relievers, electrolyte drinks, and a variety of soft foods waiting for you at home. 

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please reach out to our office for more information. 

Pre-Operative Instructions English | Pre-Operative Instructions Spanish

For general tooth extractions, there are some important post-operative instructions that patients should follow: 

• Continue biting on the provided gauze pad for the recommended 45 minutes following the appointment. This will help form a blood clot, which will start the healing process and stop the bleeding. If bleeding persists, begin using another gauze pad and bite it in place for an additional 30 minutes. This may need to be done several times. 
• Do not spit or rinse your mouth for the 24 hours following surgery. Avoid touching the socket and surgical area with your fingers or tongue. 
• Take time to rest and recuperate. Do not participate in strenuous activities, including exercise, for at least 3 to 4 days following your procedure. 
• Do not smoke for at least 5 days after your surgery. 
• Ice packs and cold compresses can be used on the side of your face for the first 48 hours following surgery in 15-minute intervals. If you notice the muscles of your jaw becoming stiff after your procedure, heat packs that provide warm, moist heat can be used to relax the muscles in the same manner as the ice packs. 
• You can treat post-surgery pain or discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers. Use your medication of choice as directed. 
• Make sure to replenish your fluids but do not use a straw as this will create suction in your mouth cavity, which could lead to complications with your extraction site. 
• We recommend a diet of soft foods that are easy to swallow and drinks that are cool rather than warm or hot. Don’t eat anything that might get easily stuck in your teeth, such as seeds, popcorn, nuts, or anything sticky. 
• 24 hours after your operation, you should begin rinsing your mouth with warm salt water (a mix of ½ tsp of salt per 8 oz. of water). Do this after every meal for the first week following your procedure. This will flush out any lingering bits of food and help reduce bacterial growth in the extraction site.  

You will be provided with similar post-op instructions after your surgery is complete. For any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office and we will gladly assist you.

Tooth Extraction Post Op instructions

Prepare for your All-On-4 Implant procedure by knowing what to expect. These instructions will help you see the best possible results:

• Do not eat, drink, or smoke 8 hours prior to your surgery. Do not drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours before surgery.
• Do take any prescribed medication on the morning of your surgery with only a small amount of water in sips.
• Bring all necessary medications to your surgical appointment.
• Notify our team of any illness leading up to your appointment, including a sore throat, cold, stomach ache, or upset bowels.
• For your safety, don’t wear perfume, cologne, makeup, or contacts to your appointment.
• To help us monitor your vitals, don’t wear nail polish, press-ons, gel nails, or acrylic nails to your appointment.
• Schedule 48-72 hours off of work, school, or other commitments, and do not operate a vehicle or machinery for 24 hours following surgery or your last dose of pain medication.
• Attend a post-surgical appointment with our surgical team 2 days after your surgery.
• Attend a post-surgical appointment with our surgical team 2 weeks after your surgery to follow up and evaluate your healing process. You will also attend an additional 2 month appointment and a 4-6 month appointment.

Please plan to have a responsible companion attend your surgical appointment with you. They must be an adult and they must remain in the office during the entire surgery, drive you home after the surgery, and supervise you for 24 hours following the surgery.

For any questions about these guidelines, please contact the WISE Oral and Facial Surgery team. We will be happy to provide more information.

All-On-4 Timeline and Prep

Pain management is an important aspect of planning for any surgical procedure. These instructions will help you understand how to manage your pain in a healthy and comprehensive way:

• Narcotic pain medication is not prescribed for every surgery. Narcotic pain medication does have side effects, including but not limited to constipation and addiction. If you are prescribed a narcotic pain medication for post-operative pain management it should be used for breakthrough pain only after taking NSAIDs if possible.
• Narcotics should not be taken at work, school, or while operating any machinery or vehicles. Doing so poses health and safety risks to you and others. 
  Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) will provide significant post-operative pain and swelling control. Start taking ibuprofen the night before your surgery if possible. This will help decrease post-operative pain and the need for narcotics.
• Unless you have been advised against the use of ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or NSAIDs by your physician, please follow the regimen described below. This regimen is for adult patients and teenagers who take adult-dose medications. Please call our office with any questions.
• Begin taking 600 mg of ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) the day before surgery. 600mg of ibuprofen is 3 tablets of the 200 mg tablets of ibuprofen sold over the counter at your pharmacy. You should take 3 doses the day before surgery 6 hours apart. You will continue this regimen postoperatively.
• If you are NOT undergoing IV SEDATION for your procedure, then 1 hour prior to surgery take 600 mg of Ibuprofen.
• If having pain 3 hours later, take one of the prescription pain medication tablets.
• You may alternate ibuprofen and prescription pain medications every 3 hours, eliminating the prescription medication first, once the pain lessens.
• Stop both medications once pain-free.
• Taking pain medication without food can cause nausea.

For the safety of yourself and others, properly discard leftover narcotic pain medication. Do not flush unused medication down the toilet. Do not keep unused pain medication, as it can pose a danger to yourself and others. Like all medication, pain medication will expire and lose efficacy over time.

Reach out to the WISE Oral and Facial Surgery team for any questions regarding your procedure or these instructions. We will gladly discuss your treatment options. 

Pain Management Instructions